Remote-control system



April 1946- J. c. CLARK REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed May' 50, 1942 INVENTOR.

BY J 1 p 5362mm QM ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 16, 1946 REMOTE CONTROIZ' SYSTEM fi'Joseph": 13.111 Clark: PennsaukemeN. -J.,' assignor to RadiolGorporation of Americannar corporation v eof Delaware Application May 30, 1942,?Serial N051445252 G'Glaims. (mama- 142) means for operatir'lgan1' auxiliary control circuit upon simultaneous operation of; two control ele- This invention. relates generally tremote1c'on- 'trol'systems andjparticula'rlytto an electrical remote control "system for controllingthe angular displacement" or one or' more" rotatable elements, whichincludes' 'means for restoringi'thei rotatable element to apredetermind angular position after each operation Oftheremote' control means.

' The inventionmay" be adapted to the control of any rotatable element. However; for the purpose ofi1lu"s'tra'tion onlyjthe deviceto be described herein comprises "two rotatable shafts driven by a common-motor. The motor drives a chain of four gears, two of which rotate clockwise and the other two"counter-'c'1ockwise. "The four"gears"are" coupled thron'ghrindividual electromagnetic clutches to a secondl'group' of four 'geazrs'each of'which may bedrivenini correspond- 'ing directions upon '-..energization' of i the: correspending" electromagnetic clutch. "A driven'gear connected'to" aworksha'ft is constantly" meshed "with a clockwise rotatable: gearuarid .a" counter- 'clockwise"rotatablegearofithe second gearggroup.

Therefore; by selective energizationi of two of the electromagnetic clutches; the work: shaft may be selectively fdriven "either clockwise or counterclockwise froma linidiredtion'al'motor. VA sec- 'ond"work"shaft'may "likewisebe rotated in either direction by means ofsirnilar clutches and gears.

-' Mechanical systemsfs'uch as described heretoforearewellknownin the art. The instant in- 'ventioni provides a new and improved means for 'controllin'g'the operation of such aime'chanical system whereby" either v or'" both oftheishafts may be rotated through any desired angle, aridautomatically restored to aneutral po'sitiona'fterea'ch operation of the" remote; control system. Infielddition; means are'providd; i or automatically limiting the angular displacement oflboth of; the

"work" shafts without necessarily interrubtingllthe motordrive electricalcirciiit.

"Amongtheiobje'cts of the invention are topmvide" a new and improvdfmeansi for selectively "controlling the rotation ofone ormorevrotatable elements. "Another objectofjthefiinventioniisto provide a; new and improvedme'a'nsfor continu- "ously "driving" a'igear train and. remotely controlling the -relative*angir1ar ('iisiilacementof. a; blur'ality of rotatable el'ementswithin predetermined limits of "angular' disiJlacement. further fobject is to" provide anew and'improved remote control system foroneor more"rotat'abler elements, in-

- eluding means for" restoringieach rotatable; element to a neutral; position After each operation ofthe'remote"contrblaidevice. mnothenbbjeet; of

the inventionfisf tofprovideinewarid 'iinprovd -ments 'ofj'an' otherwise iridependentremote controlsystem.

inventionwillbe de'scribed'by reference to the accompanying drawing in which'the-single figure 'is a" schematic diagram of one embodiment thereof.

"Referring to "drawing; a unidirectional 3 electric motor I is either continuously or selectively driven by power derivdfromabattery or other "source 66. A gear 2', drivenby the motor I; drives two otherfgears' 3' and4whibh "in turn drive two additionalgears 5' and'ffiyrespectively. As themofgears 3 and land their respective shafts l2 and l3 willrotate counter clockwise andithe gears '5 'andjfi arid their respectivesha'ftsy I I" and M will 'be driven" clockwise. "An electromagnetic clutch,

tor Ishaft is rotated in" abldckWise direction the including" wwiriding? 2 l' 'and clutch faces I tend "ligcou-ialesthe shaft ll toa second shaft 4| arrangedtcoaxially' thereto. The second shaft 4 I jis c'onnectd' to a first driven-gear 25. A: second electromagnetic clutchfidnclu'ding a winding 22 "and-"clutch races 'l-andj I 6; couples the shaft l 2 to ashaftl2'connected'to a seconddriven gear "26. "*The first'andsecond driven, gears: 25 and 26 are "disposed in' operable-"relationwith a third 'driven gear29. If," as described heretofore; the

"shaft l 2 is rotated in a counter clockwise' direction by thefgearfi"energizationofthe second electromagnetic 'clut'ch 1, 16 '22 will provide counter clockwise" rotation; of the" second driven "gear 26 and, therefore; clockwise rotation of the thirdidrivengear 29' which is connected to a. first "work shaft 3 I. Likewise; energizationoi the first "electromagnetic "clutch" l0, l5, 2l"will"'pro'vide clockwise rotation" of the first driven gear 25 and therefore" counter= clookwiserotation or the, third .driven"gear"29. t

Similarly; ai'third". electromagnetic clutch, in-

cluding a winding23 and clutch faces" 8F and I 1, couples thel'shaft l3 to a coaxiallydisposed shaft electromagnetic i clutch, including a winding 2 4 and clntch faces 7 9 and" I8, couples the. shaft I4 to a coaxially 'disposedshaft 20 which is connectd'to afifth driven gear'28. The fourth and ifi'fth drivengearsz'l and'28 are connected in onerable relation to a siiithtdri-venigear 30 which is connected to a second work shaft 32. h By selective energization bf'themagnetic clutches-8j I1, 23

l and 9, 18,: 24, the: second work shaft 32 may like- -wisebe rotated in either aclockwise or co ntert' clcckwise direction first electromagnetic clutch winding 2|.

The second work shaft 32 is connected in operable relation to a first sliding contact arm 43 which engages, first, second and third concentrically arranged commutator segments 44, 45 and 46 in such a manner that the first segment 44 is alternately connected to either the second segment 45 or the third segment 46 except in one neutral position. '.The first slidingcontact 43 is arranged to have the same angular displacement as the driven shaft 32. For the required prede connected through a fourth switch 51 to the ungrounded terminal of the power supply 66. The remaining terminal of the fifth relay winding 52 is connected to one terminal of the fourth resistor 68 and to the armature contact 63 of the third relay 53. The remaining terminal of the fourth resistor 68 is connected to the grounded terminal of the power supply 66, and through the fourth pair of circuit-opening contacts 39 and 48 to one termined limits of angular displacement of the first sliding contact 43, and the second work shaft 32, a pair of circuit-opening contacts 41 and 48 are provided to limit clockwise rotation, anda second'pair of circuit opening contacts 49' and 59 are provided to limit counter-clockwise rotation. Similarly, the first driven shaft 3| is connected to a second sliding contact arm 33 in operable relation to the fourth, fifth and sixth commutator segments 34, 35 and 36, to a third pair of circuit opening contacts 31 and 38, and to a fourth pair of circuit-opening contacts 39 and 46, which correspond in construction and operation to the contact arrangement for the seconddriven shaft 32.

One terminal of a first relay winding 55 is connected through a first switch 59 to one terminal of the source of power 66. The remaining terminal of thefirst relay winding 55 is connected 6 and to the remaining-preferably grounded, terminal of the power supply 66. Likewise, one terminal of a second relay winding 54 is connected v through a second switch 58 .to the ungrounded terminal of the power supply 66. The remaining terminal of the second relay winding 54 is connectedto one terminal of a second resistor 69, tothe third segment Y46 and to one terminal of the third electromagnetic clutch winding 23. The remaining terminal of the third clutch winding 23 is connected through the first pair of circuit opening contacts 4! and 48, to the remaining terminal of the second resistor 69, and the grounded side of the power supply 66.

r The'first relay 55 includes a first fixed contact 15, and a first circuit-opening armature contact The armature contact is connected to the first commutator segment 44. The second relay 54 includes a second fixed relay contact 14 which is connected tothe ungrounded side of the power supply 66, and 'asecond circuit-opening armaturecontact 64, which is connected to the first fixed relay contact 15 of the first-relay 5.5.

One terminal of a third relay winding 53 is connected through a third switch 56 to the ungrounded terminalof the source. of power 66. The remaining terminal of the third relaywinding53'is connected to one terminal of, a fourth relay winding 5|. The remaining terminal of the fourth relay winding 5| is connected to one terminal .of a third resistor 61, to the sixth commutator segment 36, and to one terminal of the The remaining terminal of the first electromagnetic clutch winding 2 is connected through the third pair of circuit-opening contacts 3'! and 38 to the remaining terminal of the'third resistor 61 and terminal of the second electromagnetic clutch winding 22. The remaining terminal of the electromagnetic clutch winding 22 is connected to the fifth commutator segment 35, and to a stationarycontact 13 which is connected to the armature 63-when the third relay 53 is not energized. A secondstationary contact 84, which connects to v the armature contact 63 when the third relay 53 vmutator segment 34.

Operation If the motor is rotated in a clockwise direction when energized by the power source 66 and the-first switch 59 is closed, current from the ungrounded terminal of the source of power 68 will pass through the first relay winding 55, the fourth electromagnetic clutch winding 24, and

. the second pair of contacts 49 and58 to the grounded terminal of 'the power-source 66. The

' energization of the fourth electromagnetic clutch winding 24 will provide, through the clutch faces 9 and I8, clockwise rotation of the fifth driven to the grounded terminal of the power supply 66.

One terminal of a fifth relay winding 52 is gear 28 and counter-clockwise rotation of the sixth driven gear 30 and the second work shaft 32. As soon as theswitch 59 is closed, the first sliding contact 43 attached to the second work shaft 32 will rotate counter-clockwise with'the shaft until it reaches the contact 49, thereby opening the circuit between the second pair of contacts 49 and 59. 'When the contacts 49 and 56-are opened, the resistor 19 provides a return path .for the first relay 55 to the grounded ter-- .minal of the power source 66, while the fourth electromagnetic clutch winding 24 is deenergized,

stopping the rotation of thesecond work shaft 32.

and current flows through the third electromagnetic clutch winding 23 and the closed first pair of contacts 41 and 48 to the grounded terminal of the power supply 66. The energization of the third electromagnetic clutch inding 23 will provide clockwise rotation of the second work shaft 32 until the first sliding contact 43, carried thereby, reaches a-neutralposition between the second and third commutator faces 45 and 46, at which point the circuit is opened. Similar operation is provided by the second relay 54 for clockwise rotation of the second work shaft 32, and the return of the second work shaft 32 to its neutral position is accomplished through the second cominutator segment 45 in the same manner as described heretofore for the third commutator segment 46.

If the third switch 56 is closed, current from the ungrounded terminal of the power supply 66 is connected through the third relay winding 53 and the fourth relay winding to the sixth commutator segment 36, and to one terminal of the first electromagnetic clutch winding 2|. The circuit is completed from the other terminal of the first electromagnetic clutch 2| through the third pair of contacts 31 and 38 to the grounded terminal of the power supply 66. The first work shaft 3| will be driven counter-clockwise when the first electromagnetic clutch winding 2| is energized, until the second sliding contact 33 opens the circuit between the third pair of contacts 31 and 38, at which time the first clutch is deenergized. The third resistor 61 then completes the circuit through the third and fourth relays 53 and 5| to the grounded terminal of the power supply 66. While the third switch 56 is closed, the armature 63 of the third relay 53 is connected to the second stationary contact 84, and the circuit between the contacts of the fourth relay 5| is opened. As soon as the third switch 56 is opened, the ungrounded terminal of the power supply is connected through the contacts of the fourth and fifth relays 5| and 52 to the fourth commutator segment 34. The second sliding contact 33, connected to the first work shaft 3|, thereby completes the circuit between the fourth and fifth commutator segments 34 and 35, and energizes the second electromagnetic clutch winding 22 to provide clockwise rotation of the first work shaft 3| until the second sliding contact 33 reaches a neutral point between the fifth and sixth commutator segments 35 and 36.

Similarly, when the fourth switch 51 is closed, the second electromagnetic clutch winding 22 is energized, providing clockwise rotation of the first work shaft 3|. The shaft will be returned to its neutral position after the fourth switch 51 is opened by means of the circuit provided by the slide contact 33 between the commutator segments 34 and 36.

If both the third and fourth switches 56 and 51 are closed simultaneously, an auxiliary circuit, connected between the terminal 60 and the grounded terminal of the power supply 65, will be completed through the contacts 63 and 84 of the relay 53, through the relay winding 52 and the fourth switch 51 to the ungrounded terminal of the power supply 66.

Thus, a system has been described which provides for selective rotation of two work shafts, in either direction and within preedtermined angular limits, in which provision is included for disconnecting the mechanical drive when the limits are reached and restoring the work shaft to a neutral position after each operation of the remote control means. In addition, a simple circuit is included for energizing an auxiliary load circuit upon simultaneous operation of two otherwise independent circuits.

I claim as my invention:

1. A remote control system for controlling the angular displacement of a rotatable shaft, said system including a motor, a first electromagnetic clutch, a second electromagnetic'clutch, means including said first clutch and said motor for driving said shaft in a clockwise direction, means including said second clutch and said motor for driving said shaft in a counter-clockwise direction, means connected to said shaft for selectively deenergizing said clutches to limit the clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of said shaft to a predetermined angle, and means for automatically restoring said shaft to a predetermined angular position after each angular displacement there- 2. A remote control system for controlling the angular displacement of a rotatable shaft, said system including a motor, a first electromagnetic clutch, a second electromagnetic clutch, means including said first clutch and said motor for driving said shaft in a clockwise direction, means including said second clutch and said motor for driving said shaft in a counter-clockwise direction, means connected to said shaft for selectively deenergizing said clutches to limit the clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of said shaft to a predetermined angle, a first relay means connected to said first clutch for restoring said shaft to a predetermined angular position after each operation of said second clutch, and a second relay means connected to said second clutch for restoring said shaft to said predetermined position after each operation of said first clutch.

3. A remote control system for controlling the angular displacement of a rotatable shaft, said system including a motor, a first electromagnetic clutch, a first relay means connected to said clutch, a second electromagnetic clutch, a second relay means connected to said second clutch, means including said first clutch and said motor for rotating said shaft in one direction, means including said second clutch and said motor for rotating said shaft in another direction, contact means operated by said shaft for selectively deenergizing said clutches to limit the angular rotation of said shaft, means including said first relay means for restoring said shaft to a predetermined angular position after each operation of said first clutch, means including said second relay means for restoring said shaft to said predetermined position after each operation of said second clutch, a third relay means, a utilization circuit connected to saidsystem, and means including said third relay means for energizing said utilization circuit upon simultaneous energization of said first and said second relay means.

4. A remote control system for controlling the angular displacement of a rotatable shaft, including a motor, a first electromagnetic clutch, a first relay means serially connected to said clutch, a second, electromagnetic clutch, a second relay means serially connected to said second clutch, means including said first clutch and said motor for rotating said shaft in one direction, means including said second clutch and said motor for rotating said shaft in another direction, contact means including said shaft for selectively deenergizing said clutches to limit the angular rotation of said shaft, means including said first relay means for restoring said shaft to a predetermined angular position after each operation of said first clutch, means including said second relay means for restoring said shaft to said predetermined position after each operation of said second clutch, a third relay means, a utilization circuit, and means including said third relay means for energizing said utilization circuit upon simultaneous energization of said first and said second relay means.

5. A system of the type described in claim 4 including a first resistor and a second resistor, means connecting said first resistor in. parallel with said first clutch and an operative portion of said contact means, and means connecting said second resistor in parallel with said second clutch and another operative portion of said contact means for maintaining said shaft at said angular rotational limit upon actuation of said contact means.

6. A remote control system for controlling the angular displacement of a rotatable shaft, said system including a motor, a first clutch, a second clutch, means including said first clutch and said motor for driving said shaft in a clockwise direction, means including said second clutch and said motor for driving said shaft in a counter-clockwise direction, means connected to said shaft for selectively de-energizing said clutches to limit the clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of said shaft to a predetermined angle, and means for automatically restoring said shaft to a predetermined angular position after each angular displacement thereof.

JOSEPH C. CLARK. 

